Forums: Off-Topic tags

Hi,
It is very common to see off-topic posts in forums as discussions usually engender new questions, shared experiences, etc... Anyway, could we imagine an OT tag that would, for example, color text or frame it or whatever, in order to make it easy to sort what's OT and what's not ?

[OT=avatar]
[OT=avatar]what an odd avatar you have[/OT]
That's my japanese pacman under steroids[/OT]
If you want to go extra features right now, options to show/hide [OT][/OT] could be nice too (like the spoilers tag on some movies forums with show or hide as default in your profile)
Last edited by bangkok_manouel (2008-02-01 10:20:37)

Similar Messages

Off topic: posting XML/HTML in these forums

How do you post XML to these forums? Encoding the < as > just gets interpreted as a literal, but using straight XML doesn't work because if there's overlap with HTML, the XML gets formatted as HTML. Here's an example -- if you have an XML tag called "s" (< s n a m e = " f o o " > b a r < / s > ), look what happens (because of the strikethrough HTML tag): <s name="foo">bar</s>.
Sorry to post off-topic!
Chris Bucchere | bdg | [email protected] | www.bdg-online.com

Hello red_menace,
Indeed a pre-processing code like yours is always an option for us, but from my point of view, the correct solution is for the discussions' admins to disable this meddlesome formatting feature of the new fora software.
This new feature affects not only new posts but also the existing messages in the fora, that means it has rendered quite a few useful messages totally useless. This is actually serious data loss caused by the thoughtless software. And for what?
After all, these discussions' boards are not chat rooms where people might want some simple input methods for fancy text formattings, but technical support fora where people frequently post programming codes, computer outputs and so forth that have many reserved symbols and notation.
I really wish they may fix this promptly.
Best regards,
Hiroto

Forum Atom feed and the Off-Topic forum

I'm subscribed via https://bbs.archlinux.org/extern.php?ac … der=posted and I've just noticed I don't get any notification if a new thread gets opened in Off-Topic forum. I haven't yet checked if any other forum is also excluded.
I know that I can subscribe to this forum via 'Subscribe to this forum' but according to http://projects.archlinux.org/vhosts/bb … extern.php the default feed shouldn't miss any subforums, as there are no nfids mentioned.
What am I missing?

ngoonee wrote:
Inxsible wrote:I don't mind opening the off-topic section as read only to not logged-in users/non-members
As I recall off-topic, dustbin, and TGN are log-in so that moderation there can be slightly more lenient, since its guaranteed its only our community in the place (no lurkers)? Not part of the 'main' forums in that sense, then.
EDIT: lurkers and/or bots, which is the main point.
This is correct. We don't want someone to type "Arch Linux" in a search engine and to get, as the first link, an off-topic forum thread about some random absurdities or some TGN rant. The same goes with someone visiting the forum to see what kind of community Arch Linux has before installing it. It's a question of giving a good first impression while still being able to have a good time.

Why does the off-topic forum is only for registered users ?

I discovered that when sending a link to the "I'm a nerd..." thread to co-workers, and they couldn't see it.

off-topic is Arch specific and solely to the community only.iirc this had been said earlier too.

Suggestion: General Discussions\Off Topic Section

hi,
it would be great to have an off topic forum/section here for us to interact and have general discussions. almost every forum i'm a member of has an Off Topic section. we can get to know each other much better and share useful information and opinions about various topics, technology and others also. we can do the same through PM's, but getting everyone involved will feel much better.
Make it easier for other people to find solutions, by marking my answer with \'Accept as Solution\' if it solves your problem.
Click on the BLUE KUDOS button on the left to say "Thanks"
I am an ex-HP Employee.

if they start posting technical questions or spam here, then they should be banned!
EDIT: in other news, my reputation level increased!
Message Edited by DexterM on 01-07-2009 11:44 PM
Make it easier for other people to find solutions, by marking my answer with \'Accept as Solution\' if it solves your problem.
Click on the BLUE KUDOS button on the left to say "Thanks"
I am an ex-HP Employee.

Newbie wireless question (slightly off-topic)

I didn't want to post this here as it's not entirely an Airport-specific question. I posted this to the iBook forums, but nobody there has answered so my apologies if this is not welcome here. (Any moderators can remove it if that's the case.)
I've been using computers extensively for over a decade, but I'm a total newbie to wifi. I just set up a wireless network in my house and would appreciate some advice/feedback.
My main concerns are whether or not my network is reasonably secure. I know there is no such thing as perfect security, but I don't know if what I've done is good enough or not.
I don't have an Airport base station, but I do have a D-Link Airplus G and an Airport card in my iBook. I have WEP set up on the router and I have enabled MAC filtering, listing only my desktop and my iBook, excluding all others from the network.
I'm fairly certain that nobody in my neighborhood is going to get into my machines this way or be able to sniff my network data stream, but am I right in assuming that nobody can "piggyback" on my Internet connection too? Presumably, if everyone but my own machines are MAC-filtered and kept out, then the Internet connection is also protected. Is that how it works?

WEP and MAC filtering are better than nothing, but you can do better. These are my suggestions:
1. Use WPA with a pre-shared key (PSK) and TKIP encryption on your Netgear router, along with an alphanumeric passphrase of at least eight characters not found in any dictionary. The equivalent setting on your Mac is "WPA Personal". Unlike WEP security (which an expert can crack in under half an hour), WPA security is currently unhackable by any practical means as long as you use a non-dictionary passphrase. One last point - WPA security requires all your wireless Macs to be running MacOS 10.3 or newer.
2. MAC filtering is (these days) essentially useless as a wireless security method. Using "packet sniffing" of traffic on your wireless network to find out what MAC addresses are used by computers on your network, and a PC that allows its MAC address to be cloned so that it is identical to the MAC address of one your own wireless computers (which is possible with most PC wireless network adapters) even an amateur hacker can defeat MAC address filtering in minutes.
By the way - I don't think your posted message here is off topic. In my opinion, the Airport discussion forums are the best place to post any questions related to usage of wireless networks. Questions of this nature are virtually never specific to any Mac model.

Slightly off topic: JDev + 10g + recommended laptop

Hi gang
This is a slightly off-topic post in the forum. Apologies to the forum moderators up front.
I'm in the process of purchasing a new laptop for development. Among other things I need to run Oracle 10g, + JDev + Solitaire.
My assumption for such a laptop is I'll need a fast hd (7200rpm+) for builds, and lots of memory to run Oracle 10g and memory hogging Java JDev. Also extra screen real-estate would be ideal with the multi-pane JDev.
However without the ability to walk into a laptop supplier, load up the software and do some tests, I'm not sure what would be sufficient. I don't want to go overboard on features in order to save $s, but I don't want something that wont run fast enough without bugging the Hell out of me either.
Does anybody have any recommendations on what laptop they are currently running or what they would buy to run Oracle 10g + JDev? Are my assumptions correct or does anybody run this config with less, happily?
Any help appreciated.
Cheers,
CM.

I have been doing all of my jdev + oracle development exclusively on my PowerBook G4 for over a year now. JDev 9.0.5.2 runs great, and so does the new 10.1.3 preview. I have upgraded the memory on it to 1.5 GB, but even with the stock 512 it ran well. Plus, there are all of the productivity benefits from running Mac OS X. I was skeptical about it at first, as you might be, but once I switched over, I haven't even looked back. The 17 inch screen is beautiful, it works just fine on the Windows network at work, has all of the Unix tools underneath, and for the very few times a windows machine is needed, Virtual PC helps out. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
Mike

Off topic: General comment

All,
I know this is totally off-topic but this is the best way to send a very important message.
One of those days, someone called to us to offer Solaris support services, because that person was reading this forum and saw our entries. I guess, if we are here asking for help, and helping others, the idea is to use the community to achieve better results.
I understand that every business needs to make money, but there are some limits as well. If we had any interest to hire a consulant and pay for him/her services, we would not be here making posts.
Also, what is much more important, is to share information and knowledge about a product, Solaris, which is open source now.
So, if there are any other business digger here, please do not contact us in anyway, unless we ask for that contact. Right now, that person and his company are on my personal "avoid contact at any cost" list.
Cheers
Andreas

Printers are the Demon Seed, the work of Beelzebub. While my Epson R340 will of course print for weeks on end just fine, if I suddenly need to print something urgently, it is 100% guaranteed to print it in purple. Or, the heads will need cleaning, resulting in two hours of listening to "neeeeeeeeh neh-neh-neh-neh-neh neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh neh neh neh'. Or, the DVD's doesn't get drawn into the printer properly, the resulting label is half off the disc, and it's just made a nice coaster.
I broke my last Epson while leaping up and down upon it in an apoplectic rage in such circumstances. Really.
But it seems you are right, we have no option. Finally, Print Shop by Broderbund is probably like a high-tech wunderkind chrome robot when compared to the Official Worst Appplication of All Time, Epson Print CD, which closely resembles a turd.
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Request to have off-topic posts moved

There are a number of posts accumulated in the Server and Storage Systems group of forums that are just not on-topic for them.
Generally they've been posted by people that care to not read anything nor drill down to an appropriate forum and just dump a question.
I've done the "report abuse" routine on a number of them but that seems to have been ignored.
Thus this new post.
These are from the last 60 days:
(need to be moved to a Glassfish forum)
How to start Galssfish when computer start
Glassfish 3.0.1 updatetool
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2128052
war for modify domain.xml in glassfish 3
Glassfish 2.1 + JPA 2: need some Sun/Oracle expert advice
(topics for Sun Java System "whatever" applications, posted to server forums)
AMPostAuthProcessInterface redirect problem
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2127174
Weblogic Spring/Sample Application Help
Cannot add new LDAP Group Members in Sun Java Server 7.0
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2134347
Help with iPlanet
iText vs Jasper Java Application Source Code
OpenMQ Unack'ed messages causing Java Heap overflow in STOMP
(database product questions posted to System Administration and hardware forums)
how can i release lock record?
Oracle for Mac
Problem using TNS_ADMIN in registry (Ora. 11g R2 Instant client in Win. 7)
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2154755
/opt/SUNWwbsvr7/bin/wadm exited with error: 125
Performance Testing tool
ORA-00202 and Fractured block found during control file header read
Performance Monitoring
Reg : Weblogic Server Installation
how can export from 11g to 9i
What's wrong with oracle database11g? Is it a serious problem?
Client download link needed
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2149037
Oracle 10G on VMware Redhat Linux
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2138098
I Can't Connect to Oracle
what is the function of autoextensible field in dba_data_files?
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2139323
databse copy
Advice needed regarding Database design practice
enterprise manager
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2128320
Problem with granting privileges
Inatalling IDM 11g on WondowsXp machine
Any good resources for info on specifications for a new 11g install?
During installation EMCA trows an error: Error uploading configuration data
I received Validation error in the Backup Setting
RMAN RESTORE
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Oracle 10g 64-bit database on Windows 2008 R2 (64-bit) error ?
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1554073
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TNS -12541 TNS: no listener
Installing Oracle 11g on a server without network access
RMAN Shows the following error... Please any one can help me....
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2137784
java.lang.Exception
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2138186
ORA-12543 When creating a new oracle instance, Oracle 11g
Problem with Uninstalling Oracle 11.2 on Windows Server 2008
problem installing mod_plsql oracle 11g linux
Best practice for install oracle 11g r2 on Windows Server 2008 r2
ORA-12535: TNS:operation timed out
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1982259
move datafile/tablespace in a partitioned table
Orace 11g CRS installation ( windows server 2008 64 bit ) Error
Datapump import from a map drive
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1982528
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2126409
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2126802
Oracle Startup/Shutdown with SQLPLUS and ORADIM in Windows...
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1574872
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2123572
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2041227
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2077085
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2069660

If these last few are pruned out of the SysAdmin forums, that should finish the housekeeping task. They're the most recent entries of off-topic questions.
database postings to the SysAdmin forums
Backup database with RMAN
sql*NAT?
How can convert Oracle 10g trial to License
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2160796
Visual Web Developer 2010 Express and Oracle ODAC - Oracle data provider
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2160572
Huge amount of "db file sequential reads" while INSERT APPEND operation
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2160410
Oracle Universal Installer - Toad - Virtual Machine Windows 7 on Mac
What to check or can say from where to start?
Where and how does oracle store tables?
Oracle net configuration assitant failing while installing Oracle 11g.
Resolving Mview Complete Refresh Performance
Problem with silent install of 11gR1 on Windows 2008
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2157067
ORA-01991: invalid password file
Sequences incorrect after exporting and importing a scheme
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2153592
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2149027
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2128320
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2137784
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1982259
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1574872
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2123572
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2041227
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2077085
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2069660
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=2113069
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1981627
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1981082
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1981287
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1979404
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1955376
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1844213
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1773975
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1773059
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1555844
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1555363
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1554035
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1518192
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1272113
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1134136
http://forums.oracle.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=1938192
Again, the community moderators don't have permissions to do that.
Thanks

A bit off topic, but what time should I arrive at the Keynote?

I'm posting this in the FCP forum because this is the only one I read. I'm attending Macworld for the first time and I have the cheap tickets for the Keynote (user's conference). I have no idea how early I need to show up to wait in line to guarantee I get into the Keynote.
Thanks and sorry for the off topic post.

Just showing a pick of what I look like...hee.
I will have an exhibitors pass, so I wonder if I can get in any later and still get good seats? HA! I will bring my lappy, to keep me occupied (I hope they have wireless access).
For iChat reports I'd need all your iChat accounts. That would be one BIG group chat.
Shane

Off topic - job market

Hello
Sorry for the off topic, after all this is a technical forum...
I have been working with Apex for quite a while now and I find it a great tool. I enjoy working with it and I consider myself quite good at it.
However I have concerns about my employability... Its job market seems to be almost non-existent where I live (UK). Even so, Apex seems to be now a mature product, with a growing user base, the Apex forum is one of the Oracle's most popular forums and the IT job market seems to be good here at the moment. Usually all those factors mean a buoyant job market, but it does not seem to be the case with Apex.
I have other skills, and there are quite a few vacancies asking for them. I will not starve but it seems to me that if I want to change job I will have to stop working with Apex, which would be unfortunate for me (and for the community also ;-)
Why is it so? Has anyone got the same impression? Is the Apex job market better in mainland Europe? Any insights welcome...
Thanks
Edith

I think there is not a strong demand because it has replaced small development projects , these are usually in house or done by existing IT outsourcing companies
Even though more large developments are being done , it remains a product geared at Access style development , which also has very little job market

Need a good off-topic thread to read

i'm bored and need a good off-topic thread to read whilst i sit at work.

This thread nearly made me fall on the floor.
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jsp?forum=54&thread=34
622yeah. i kept up with that one as well...
i personally liked this one...
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jsp?forum=406&thread=348808&tstart=0&trange=15

*OFF TOPIC* Two copies of Spy Mouse to whomever wants them.

Hello, I realize this is off topic but I couldn't find a forum anywhere else to place it. I have two codes here (curtiousy of Starbucks a few months back) with a code for the game Spy Mouse on the App Store. I already redeemed one so two other people may have the others.
TEFFMMHTW6WT
A4KT9W6E4WXT
Merry Christmas!

Im right there with you Mike. I'm having the same issue. I've looked everywhere for a solution but does not seem to be one. Seems like your local pictures and photo stream copies are one in your iOS 8 devise. Erase the picture from your phone and it's gone from photo stream as well. You can delete a picture via a Mac or PC from you photo stream and it will stay on your iOS 8 device. That is all I have been to find a work around. I suggest using Dropbox like we are. It works great. All your pictures are automatically up loaded, you can share files with your wife and friends or just share the whole account with your wife. App can be password protected. It's the best solution in my opinion.
Use my link to open your account and we both will get an extra 500mb of storage space!!
https://db.tt/57GJBo47

(off topic) BEWARE OF CNET DOWNLOADS!!!!

I know that this is slighly off-topic for this forum, but I wanted to spread the word about CNET downloads (download.com). Several months ago, CNET was slapped on the wrist for intentionally adding spyware into the programs on their download website.
Well, they stopped for a while and they're at it again. I wrote to them saying that I had trusted CNET for years because of their policy against spyware and mailicious code. A few weeks ago, I needed to download a program to check wifi channels on my wireless network, and ended up having to perform a full virus/spyware scan aftrer downloading TWO different programs from CNET's download site. After installing each program, I ended up having my homepage hijacked and dozens of popups appearing offering to fix my computer!
I thought that maybe it was just the first program (slipped by heir radar), but the SECOND one had the same problem. I then went to the publisher's website and found his blog complaining that his program was free of malicious code and that it was inserted by CNET/Download.com AFTER he had uploaded it to the web.
His recommendation is that, if you can't go directly to the publisher's site for a download, File-Hippo is still a fairly clean site.
Please pass this info on to friends and colleagues.
SD
All people have photographic memories - some are just missing the film!

Sophiesdad, welcome to the forum.
I know that you are correct. I have found this to be very true. The only way that I have found to get around this situation is use the "Custom" option to do the install. This allows me to decline all of the garbage that they want to add to my computer. It has worked so far.
This is not the only website that does this, however. I have found it to be true on Softpedia, also. It was my most trusted until lately.
Signature:
HP TouchPad - 1.2 GHz; 1 GB memory; 32 GB storage; WebOS/CyanogenMod 11(Kit Kat)
HP 10 Plus; Android-Kit Kat; 1.0 GHz Allwinner A31 ARM Cortex A7 Quad Core Processor ; 2GB RAM Memory Long: 2 GB DDR3L SDRAM (1600MHz); 16GB disable eMMC 16GB v4.51
HP Omen; i7-4710QH; 8 GB memory; 256 GB San Disk SSD; Win 8.1
HP Photosmart 7520 AIO
++++++++++++++++++
**Click the Thumbs Up+ to say 'Thanks' and the 'Accept as Solution' if I have solved your problem.**
Intelligence is God given; Wisdom is the sum of our mistakes!
I am not an HP employee.

Question a lil off topic

i have a question that may be a lil off topic from java but i want to put a counter on my web page
i need to know were my perl executable file is and i cant find it it says to type in whereis perl from the unix shell but the server is running iis2 on nt4 and i havent a clue of how to get to the unix shell if thier even is one if anyone knows how tell me or if their is a way to do this in java tell me
and if no one knows its ok cause this is the java forum hehe but i figure someone on heres probably delt with this before
thanks in advance

If it is on an NT box, you probably don't need the #! line you would need in UNIX as there is probably a file association for .pl or .cgi for the Perl executeable.

Forums: Off-Topic tags

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